Although the drive on I-69 is spectacular during autumn’s multi-hued foliage, any season is perfect for visiting Paducah, Kentucky, which is in elite company as one of only 10 U.S. cities recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization for its creative heritage.
The UNESCO Creative City program was launched in 2004, and Paducah is easily the smallest community in a group that includes San Antonio, Texas; Seattle, Washington; Detroit, Michigan; and New Orleans, Louisiana. Paducah’s 2013 designation is for Crafts and Folk Art, an award it shares with global cities including Icheon, South Korea; Tunis, Tunisia; Cairo, Egypt; and Perth, Australia.
“The designation validates what our creative community has been building for years, and it gives us this powerful language to connect with visitors who aren’t just looking for a quick weekend getaway,” says Paducah Convention and Visitors Bureau President and CEO Alyssa Phares.
How did a city of only 26,730 people pull off such a feat? Start with the National Quilt Museum, whose colorful, elaborate creations by quilters across the world have attracted more than 1 million guests since opening in 1991. Temporary exhibits shine a contemporary light on a skill that some associate with past generations. “We’re a quilt museum for today’s quilters,” explains Curator Rachael Baar, who also is a former Henderson, Kentucky resident.
Also boosting Paducah’s UNESCO Creative City push was its acclaimed artist relocation effort, dating back to the 1990s, in the city’s Lower Town Arts District. A stroll through Lower Town brings sights of murals, galleries, and Victorian, Greek Revival, and Italianate architecture. The neighborhood’s volume is turned up every May when a two-day arts and music festival draws thousands of visitors.
Passion For The Arts
The UNESCO designation has boosted Paducah’s identity as an arts-centric community throughout the year, says Landee Bryant, owner of Bricolage Art Collective. Bryant’s Downtown shop is within walking distance of Lower Town as well as Paducah’s mural-lined Ohio River flood wall, and it’s packed with artisans’ handiwork. Bryant also curates art exhibitions at other Paducah locations, including nearby restaurant Freight House (more on that shortly).
“When I do get tourists in here, a lot of them say their perception of Paducah has been one thing and they find out it’s something else, which is kind of fun to see through other people’s eyes,” Bryant says. “I think just Paducah as a whole — our restaurants, our shops, our music scene, beautiful historic architecture — has cool spots that have different vibes.”
Kimberly Story, owner of the nearby Lepa Jewelry shop, agrees. She sees several out-of-towners, including those stepping off Ohio River cruise vessels. “Paducah is stark full of talent, the theater shows are like New York quality. The musicians are great. The food, you can’t go wrong. And, the jewelry is magnificent,” she says with a laugh.
In addition to the aforementioned Lower Town Arts and Music Festival, Paducah’s music scene includes the city’s Symphony Orchestra — during a spring visit, Evansville Living was treated to the orchestra’s first classical-bluegrass collaboration featuring performers such as Hickman, Kentucky, singer-songwriter S.G. Goodman.
Food For Thought
Where to eat in Paducah? Locals recommend Freight House, a dinner-only Downtown destination that has gained notice beyond Western Kentucky. Owned and operated by Sara Bradley — whose accolades include being a runner-up on the Food Network show “Tournament of Champions” and Bravo’s “Top Chef” — Freight House specializes in Southern-style cuisine with an upscale twist. The menu is tweaked seasonally, but choices such as shrimp and grits, smothered cabbage, catfish, and steaks remain all year.
Stella’s tavern at Broadway Street and Market House Square sits in a property dating to the 1880s and offers lunch, an upscale dinner menu, and signature cocktails. Paducah also is all-in on the Bluegrass State’s barbecue tradition, with 11 restaurants included in the West Kentucky BBQ Belt.
For bourbon (this is Kentucky, after all), check out Abstraction Spirits, which combines fine sips with Paducah’s love of fine art. The distillery’s in-house, horse-racing-themed label art is by Louisville, Kentucky, artist Keith Anderson. Browse and imbibe on Friday and Saturday nights, or schedule a tour and see how the spirits are made.
Come In And Rest
When you’re ready to lay your head down, the Belle Louise Historic Bed & Breakfast is an Italianate treasure in the heart of Lower Town. The Belle Louise dates to 1879 and was a funeral home for many years, hosting a 1956 visitation for 35th U.S. Vice President Alben Barkley. The property has five guest rooms, including four suites, and is decked out for Christmas every winter. Cary and Melinda Winchester, a pair of passionate local preservationists, took ownership in 2019. In addition to cooking made-from-scratch breakfasts each weekend, they’re glad to help steer your visit — Melinda is a former director of Paducah Main Street.
The Paducah Convention and Visitors Bureau (which is branded as Paducah Travel) is the city’s focal point with the UNESCO Creative City program. Phares, the CVB’s President and CEO, says a goal is to use the designation to broaden the city’s reach. “They’re looking for authenticity, for places where they can actually engage with artists and makers, where the culture is alive and not just on display. That’s opened doors with travelers who care about supporting local creativity, who want to learn a craft or be part of something meaningful. It’s helped us reach beyond the traditional tourism audience and build relationships with people who are genuinely invested in what makes Paducah unique. The designation is really a tool for telling a bigger story about who we are.”
These autumn events in Paducah are worth the drive:
Cars & Guitars, Sept. 19 and Oct. 17
Paducah’s monthly classic car and live music series closes out the season with show vehicles lining Broadway Street northeast to the riverfront and includes live bands, food, and shopping.
Barbecue on the River, Sept. 24-26
Smoky flavor wafts along the Ohio River as regional pitmasters compete and serve up barbecue for a good cause — proceeds support local charities. Expect craft vendors, live entertainment, and a kickoff party called PorkStock.
Oktoberfest, Oct. 17
Maiden Alley Cinema‘s annual cultural festival brings Bavarian-style food (courtesy of West Kentucky Community and Technical College’s Culinary Arts program), local craft beer and cider, live music, and stein-holding and keg-squat contests to Downtown Paducah. Admission is $20.
American Bluegrass Classic, Oct. 17
This flat, fast marathon, half marathon, and four-person relay loops through Downtown and the Lower Town Arts District to the Avondale Heights neighborhood. Up to 1,200 runners are expected, starting and finishing in Historic Downtown before spilling right into the Oktoberfest celebration. Registration is $70-$100 plus fees.
